Doctors optimistic about children hurt in Roswell, N.M., shooting

Troy Tucker holds daughters Emily, 10, left, and Hannah, 12, during a community prayer vigil for the victims of the Berrendo Middle School shooting in Roswell, N.M.

Troy Tucker holds daughters Emily, 10, left, and Hannah, 12, during a community prayer vigil for the victims of the Berrendo Middle School shooting in Roswell, N.M. (Pat Vasquez-Cunningham / Albuquerque Journal)

Michael Muskal

Doctors are optimistic about the two students wounded in this week’s shooting at a Roswell middle school, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said Thursday.

She traveled Wednesday night to the Lubbock, Texas, medical center where the children are being treated, her spokesman said.

Martinez told reporters Thursday that the injured boy, Nathaniel Tavarez, 12, remained in critical condition. One of the pellets from the shotgun blast that hit the students nicked Nathaniel’s heart, she said. He also suffered injuries to both eyes and pellet wounds to his face and chest and is heavily sedated, the governor said.

The injured girl, Kendal Sanders, 13, was wounded in her arm, the governor said. She has been steadily recovering and her condition is listed as satisfactory.

The 12-year-old accused in Tuesday's shooting at Berrendo Middle School has been charged as a juvenile with three counts of aggravated assault. The Los Angeles Times does not identify juvenile suspects unless they have been charged as adults.